Shostakovich, Dmitri - Violin concerto no.1 - Soloist Sergey Khachatryan - 3rd movement

The third movement (Passacaglia: Andante - Cadenza) of violin concerto no.1 in A minor opus 99 (formerly opus 77) by Dmitri Shostakovich conducted by Jaap van Zweden and performed by the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest and Sergey Khachatryan (soloist).

The Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Opus 99, was originally written by Dmitri Shostakovich in 1947-48. He was still working on the piece at the time of the Zhdanov decree, and in the period following the composer's denunciation the work could not be performed. In the period between the work's initial completion and the first performance on 29 October 1955, the composer and its dedicatee, David Oistrakh, worked on a number of revisions. The work was finally premiered by the Leningrad Philharmonic under Yevgeny Mravinsky. It was well received, Oistrakh remarking on the "depth of its artistic content" and describing the violin part as a "pithy 'Shakespearian' role".

Oistrakh characterised the first movement Nocturne as "a suppression of feelings", and the second movement Scherzo as "demoniac". The Scherzo is also notable for an appearance by the DSCH motif -- a motif that reoccurs in many of the composer's works representing Shostakovich himself. Boris Schwarz (Music and Musical Life in Soviet Russia, 1972), commented on the Passacaglia's "lapidary grandeur" and the Burlesque's "devil-may-care abandonment". The beginning of the Passacaglia is also notable for its juxtaposition of the invasion or Stalin theme from the Seventh Symphony and the fate motif from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• violin concerto no.1
• Dmitri Shostakovich
• Sergey Khachatryan
• violin
• classical music

[theoceanave]

I'm still kinda getting to know this guy's playing...he certainly plays well enough. But is he a genius? I don't know. I'm thinking not. Can he mesmerize audiences in the way that Milstein and Horowitz and other unparalleled musicians of the past did, and really and truly move them, to the point where it's like seeing an outstanding film that really makes you contemplate? Maybe as he gets older he'll have that power. Does he offer something that no one else nowadays does? Just wondering.

[Mashdotz]

@theoceanave He's still young and he plays such difficult pieces so brilliantly (by "difficult" I don't mean just the technique). And the thing that I appreciate the most in him is that he puts much emotion into his music (not just presenting fine technique), something that many don't, thus neglecting the other face of classical music, and music in general. In this sense he's a big expressionist.

[Mashdotz]

@theoceanave I, along with many others from my musical surrounding (professors, friends, colleagues etc) think that he's one of the big names of our times (new generation). Personally, I don't think it is just and wise to compare artists from different times (Milstein and Horowitz being born in 1904 and 1903 respectively, and Khachatryan, 1985, almost a century after them). After the WW2 lots of things have changed, including the understanding of music, the way of life of artists and musicians..

[Mashdotz]

@theoceanave We aren't still talking about comparing a pianist with a violinist. This is also, I think, an unwise comparison, because then you're comparing in general two different "artists" or "musicians", and there you cannot make account of the specificity each instrument and type of musician has. I prefer not to make big and decisive comparisons between very good artists, although we can surely draw lines of similarities and differences, or make preferences.

[Mashdotz]

@theoceanave Regarding your last question, I think it should be the task of every musician, and every artist, in general. In other words, the real artist should be a very unique person who has inner capabilities normal people do not have, and who has something new, deep from his soul, to offer to the humanity as a whole. And this is, of course, beyond having the fine technique and dexterity that can be obtained by continuous and rigorous practice.

[Mashdotz]

@theoceanave So, after satisfying the objective (technique) evaluation of an artist or a musician, the answer of your last question would be very relative, and subjective, differing from one person to another, but of course majorities and general agreements can be made. Finally, as you said, give him some time to get older, and things will be clearer. Thank you for your concern.

[Mashdotz]

@Bagdasarjanz Yes, I know. That's why I posted it. All the best for you as well.

[Bagdasarjanz]

Sergey Khachatryan is an outstanding violinist! That's music performed on a highest level!

Ursula Bagdasarjanz,violinist,Switzer­land

[dasweeney62]

saw him 2 months play Sibelius in Sydney and he had the crowd in tears...on to lo watch. BRILLIANT!!!!!!

[Gallipoli717]

Fantastic performance. Finally someone from this generation of violinists whose not about gimicks, but real solid music playing from the soul. Bravo Sergey!!